Tube with snail inside?

[inigomontoya]

I just took all of my base rock out and scrubbed it with a soft brush in refrigerator-cold purified drinking water. As far as I knew, there was nothing alive on this rock. I put it back in the tank and poured in my new r/o and salt water for my water change. All of a sudden a stringy type substance ejected from this tube on the top rock. I took a net and pulled it out, then I did it a second time after it happened again. Is this a snail, and if so, is it going to be okay?

 

[justinx]

It is a Vermetid snail. A very common hitchhiker that reproduces VERY easily in the home aquarium. It is probably more than likely OK if you saw its threads come out after the cold water bath. They are rather hardy in my experience.
Justin

 

[inigomontoya]

Good! Thanks!